The trend within Hazy IPAs is shifting increasingly towards lighter, fresher and more drinkable expressions – with a pale colour, soft body and maximum hop expression. One key factor that is often underestimated when brewing pale Hazy IPA? The choice of base malt.
Start with a light malt base
Our Swaen® Lager is our lightest base malt, ideal for brewers aiming to create a beautifully pale Hazy IPA.
Benefits:
- Keeps colour light and clear straw-yellow.
- Lets hop aromas shine.
- Clean, neutral malt profile.
- Reduces unwanted colour development during mashing and boiling.
Many Hazy IPAs unintentionally turn darker due to heavier kilned base malts – a lighter base gives you more control.
Body and haze – wheat and oat flakes
To build structure and mouthfeel, flakes are a powerful tool. They contribute proteins and soluble fibres that enhance the body, texture, and haze stability of your Hazy IPA without adding unwanted colour.
Flaked Wheat
Our unmalted flaked wheat is a cereal grain that contributes significantly to a beer’s mouthfeel and flavour profile.
- Improve haze stability.
- Support foam retention.
- Increase protein structure without adding colour.
Flaked Oat
These flaked oats are a popular unmalted adjunct known for adding smoothness, body, and a creamy texture to beer.
- Soft, creamy mouthfeel.
- More body and “juiciness”.
- Stabilise haze.
Water profile – often underestimated
Besides malt choice, water chemistry plays a major role in how a Hazy IPA tastes and feels. The right balance of minerals can subtly influence bitterness, mouthfeel, and hop expression, giving brewers more control over the final beer.
- Higher chloride/sulphate ratio enhances body and softness.
- Reduces bitterness harshness.
- Improves integration of hop aromas.
A light malt profile gives brewers more flexibility to achieve the desired balance through water chemistry.
Hop – let it do its work
A light malt base combined with a soft water profile creates the perfect canvas for modern aromatic hops. This approach allows fruity esters and hop aromas to stand out clearly, without being overshadowed by heavy malt flavours or harsh mineral notes.
- Fruity esters and hop aromas remain clear.
- Less “malt colour” to weigh down aroma visually or sensorially.
Practical guideline
To build a pale, soft, and hop-forward Hazy IPA, it all starts with the right foundation: your grain bill. The base malt, combined with carefully chosen adjuncts and a considered water profile, shapes the colour, body, haze stability, and ultimately how the hops express themselves. A well-planned grain composition not only keeps the beer visually appealing but also ensures the mouthfeel is smooth and drinkable, while leaving the aromatic hops free to shine. Here’s a reliable starting point for your Hazy IPA:
- Swaen® Lager as the main component.
- 5–15% wheat flakes.
- 5–15% oat flakes.
- Chloride-focused water profile.
